Free Pattern - American flag Preemie Hat

I've been seeing a lot of super cute crochet baby hat patterns. Not so much knit patterns.

So, I guess, I feel like changing that a little bit.

Super simple pattern. I used scraps to make this, but would estimate around 20 to 30 yards of each color in worsted weight yarn. I used acrylic because the local hospital has requested that they be fully sanitize-able.

For the preemie size, I cast on 40 sts on a size 8 needle  9" circular needle (note: my gauge tends to run big, most knitters might want to start with a size 6).  I would also recommend having double-points for managing decreases at the crown.

CO 42 sts (or any multiple of 6) with red
Join in the round being careful not to twist
Knit 4 rounds in red
4 rounds in white
4 rounds in red
4 rounds in white
4 rounds in red (cut red yarn, leaving a long enough tail for weaving in later)
Knit 1 round in dark blue
Keeping your floats loose - use stranded knitting...
Star round 1 - Knit 1 white, knit 4 blue, repeat to end of round, knit remaining stitches in blue
Knit 2 rounds in blue
Star round 2 - decrease round 1 - Knit 2 stitches in blue, knit 1 white, knit 1 blue, K2tog blue, knit 1 blue; repeat through end of round; knit remaining stitches in blue.
Knit 2 rounds in blue
switch to double-points when necessary in the following rounds
Star 4 round 3 - decrease round 2 - Knit 1 white, K2tog blue, Knit 1 blue, repeat through end of round; knit any remaining stitches in blue (cut white yarn, leaving a long enough tail for weaving in later)
Decrease round 3 - Knit 2, K2tog, repeat through end of round
Decrease round 4 - Knit 1, K2tog, repeat through end of round

Cut blue yarn,  and use a darning needle to run through remaining stitches and tighten to close.

Weave in all ends.

C2C Baby Blanket

I have been totally digging Bernat Blanket ... especially when making quick baby blankets.

Mom's & Dad's tend to love using these - they are SO soft and snuggly and while I've been told multiple times that you 'ought not' to do double crochet or half double crochet for baby blankets??? I'm pretty sure the people who are worried about baby fingers getting caught aren't aware of how super chunky the Bernat Blanket yarn is.

Add that it's fully machine washer safe (just lay flat to dry) and it's a great go-to for babies and those who do their laundry.

I've been playing with different, yet very simple patterns... but I'm really enjoying this pattern I just tried out.

Quick and Easy Baby Blanket is exactly what it states it is. I finished this blanket in under 6 hours. I used about 2 1/2 of the large balls of the yarn (had some scraps) and I have always liked using 2 colors or 3 for baby blankets. I'm not a huge fan of pink, but at least it's not a pale one...

Gotta love quick, easy, and snuggly. I will probably make several more of these for the other babies coming along!

First FO for September

A baby hat... made in my 2-color brioche pattern with a cute pom-pom.

I'm working on fine-tuning the pattern directions to make them easier for new-to-brioche knitters. (still have a ways to go... everything is simplified until you get to the decreases, then all kinds of confusion ensues).

I started this Friday evening after work, knit on it a bit this morning and during the football game and finished it after supper. It's completely reversible right up and until you add the pom-pom, but it's just the finishing touch that was needed.

Scraps of yarn were used, just random balls of yarn I pulled out of the scrap bin. I'm planning to make several more of these so that I can finalize the pattern directions and get them posted.

Grape Chevron Sweater - Still a WIP

I've done most of my work this month on the sweater. Had to restart several times and still have a few mistakes here ... but most of them, I've decided to live with.

Mistake 1 - when dividing in half, I forgot there were two extra stitches at the end... so I divided at a point 1 stitch off to the side, which made one strap of the front 2 stitches extra (I added decreases to offset them). 

Mistake 2 - I missed a decrease on that same side on one of the right-side-rows. (Threw in an extra decrease for it as well).

Mistake 3 - I swore up and down and right-side wrong-side ... and even ripped back my first 8 inches after the divide once already... that the v neck was starting too soon. (it wasn't... I wasn't thinking about the added collar that needs to be added later. (head-smack) I'm living with it ANYWAY.

At least I think I am. I may not have the right number of stitches on the front to match the number of stitches on the back... but if I can fudge that bit as well? We're going with it. It's still going to be a wearable sweater and it's not like anyone is going to be holding the picture from the pattern magazine up next to me while I'm wearing it.

Finished watch cap - FO's

I managed to finish off my watch cap before the end of July.

I normally leave it as being fully reversible, but I'd recently seen a photo of one of these with a big, poofy pompom on top.  I chickened out and settled on a medium sized one... but it still turned out pretty cute (or at least I think so).

It's ok, and it's cute... but I might try an over-sized pom next time.

I'm knitting again - WIP - Purple & white brioche watch cap

I've always loved 2-color brioche hats. I love the magic buried in brioche and can't wait to start experimenting outside of the hat, I'm thinking a jacket similar to a pattern I've seen for a brioche cape (not much of a cape wearer).

But, given I haven't been able to knit for over eight weeks... I tried casting this on about two weeks ago... got maybe a row done before I had to call it quits. Tried again a few nights ago... and we're off and running.

I'm still trying to limit myself to 20 or 30 minutes at a time; as I don't want to push my luck, but I've made some progress, nonetheless.

Knitted Quilt in Blue - WIP

I've been working on this 'quilt' for over two years. I've just gone through and re-pinned it with some new pins I picked up (watch here for a post about them shortly).  And at one point I thought I must have made a mistake and ended up 4" short on one edge. Re-pinning it proves that I'm really only about a half inch off - enough that I can manage with pinning and seaming and meant that the blanket body is finished and just needs the finishing details.

First, the photograph (credit to the original poster, if I can find it again) that inspired me:

Step 1 - I knit a long strip up the vertical left edge using intarsia for the colorwork.

Step 2 - Then I knit the first horizontal strip that ran along the top edge.
Step 3 - Then a vertical strip that came down along the center section.

Step 4, 5, 6, 7 more horizontal strips to finish out the blanket

Remaining steps - visible seams in black, mock black seams around each square, and a solid black edging.